Properties of Fiber Cement Board Affected by AFPLF (Abaca Fiber and Pineapple Leaf Fiber)

Abstract

At present, the Philippines is the top producer of natural fibers globally. This production of abaca and pineapple leaf fiber increased as time passed by. However, applying these fibers is limited and needs further studies to be efficiently utilized. This study introduced the usage of treated Abaca fiber and Pineapple leaf fiber (AFPLF) by incorporating it to cement boards and evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of fiber cement boards (FCB). This study's experimental results showed a significant increase in compression strength in 5% fiber reinforcement, higher than the compression capacity of cement board without fiber. In addition, the physical properties of the cement board reinforced with Abaca fiber and Pineapple leaf fiber (AFPLF) showed good characteristics in terms of drilling, impact, density, and water absorption tests. The cement board reinforced with 5% Abaca fiber and Pineapple leaf fiber (AFPLF) produces the best results regarding the fiber cement board's physical and mechanical aspects.